148 Years Ago
The April 25, 1877 Colorado Transcript reported on the doings of Golden’s board of trustees (the City Council of the time).
A recurring concern at that time was “animals running at large.” In 1871, they had enacted an ordinance requiring the town constable to impound unpenned hogs. In 1877, they expanded the law to include loose horses. The constable was instructed to secure the animals and impose a fine on the owner. If the owner wasn’t found, or was unable to pay the fine, the constable would sell the animal at public auction.
They were scheduled to inspect the new Ford Street bridge. The old bridge appears in the 1873 Birdseye View Map of Golden. It looks quite basic–lacking, apparently, even railings.
The 1882 Birdseye View Map of Golden shows the new bridge, which is quite a step up. “It is a three-arch bridge, the two road-ways being floored with 4-inch plank, laid diagonally and on each side a foot-walk protected by iron railings.” The Transcript staff believed it was only iron wagon bridge in the state. It cost $1400, of which $600 was raised by subscription of citizens.
“Subscription” was a common way to fund public improvements at the time. If somebody wanted something the City couldn’t fund, they would make the rounds of the citizenry and take up a collection.
